CBS Sports analyst questions Dodgers' playoff invincibility amid slump
A recent analysis by CBS Sports highlights the Los Angeles Dodgers' vulnerability, challenging the narrative that the team is guaranteed to succeed in the postseason despite their current regular-season struggles.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been demoted in the 2026 MLB Power Rankings by a CBS Sports analyst, signalling a shift in perception regarding the two-time defending World Series champions. The move follows a significant slump in which the team has lost eight of its last nine games, casting doubt on their status as the undisputed favourites for the title.
The analysis points to an 11-17 record for the Dodgers since 4 July 2026 as evidence of their current vulnerability. Their recent form includes a seven-game losing streak that was only broken by a win on Saturday, followed by another defeat on Sunday. This performance contrasts sharply with their historical dominance and has prompted the analyst to push back against the prevailing narrative that the team invariably "figures it out" during the playoffs.
The piece challenges the selective memory often applied to the Dodgers' postseason history, citing past exits that contradict the idea of inherent playoff invincibility. The analyst notes that the team was swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023, lost to the San Diego Padres in 2022, was eliminated by the Atlanta Braves in 2021, and suffered a Wild Card loss to the Washington Nationals in 2019. The 2022 season is highlighted specifically, where the Dodgers won 111 regular-season games but lost the World Series to a team with fewer than 90 wins.
Several teams are identified as capable of capitalising on the Dodgers' current struggles. The Boston Red Sox recently swept the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, and the Chicago Cubs achieved a similar feat at Wrigley Field. The analyst argues that the Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, and Tampa Bay Rays are all well-positioned to defeat Los Angeles in a playoff series, while also noting the threat posed by the Philadelphia Phillies and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The context of the 2026 season includes contentious Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations, with some owners reportedly favouring a salary cap. The analyst suggests that a Dodgers victory in the upcoming playoffs could be viewed as proof of the need for such a cap, whereas a win by a lower-payroll team like the Rays or Brewers might argue against it. Despite the current slump, the analyst maintains that the Dodgers remain the most likely World Series champions but emphasises that their path is far from guaranteed.
